Jane had a restless night. Henry was fussy and needed to be feed often, so even though Edward offered, there was no point him staying up with her when he could be sleeping. She decided to stay the rest of the night in the nursery with Henry so that her movements would not disturb her sleeping husband.

The long hours Jane spent up during the night gave her plenty of time to feel her own frustrations with herself and the actions of that day. She knew Henry could not help the things he needed at so young an age, but the strained relationship between Diana and Mary had made her feel drained and far more tired than she already was as a new mother, and her patience was worn thin. Still, in spite of all the frustrations, she was immensely thankful for the quiet time with just her and her son. In the moments he slept in her arms or even smiled up innocently at her, Jane felt that every moment she spent wishing for sleep had been selfish and silly. He was everything to her, and she would have given everything she had to make him happy.

When it became evident that the option of going back to a solid sleep would be impossible, Jane returned to her room to dress for the day. She carried Henry over to the bed where Edward was sleeping and bent down to kiss the top of his head, brushing his hair back from his forehead. When he stirred, Jane laid Henry in his outstretched arm and said lowly to him, "Henry is with you, darling. I have to get dressed".

Edward mumbled something incoherent in reply, but cradled Henry safely between his body and his arm. Jane walked over to her closet and tried to dress making as little noise as possible, but Edward was rubbing his eyes, looking up sleepily at her from the bed.

"Are you only now coming back? Please tell me you slept a little"

"A little indeed" she said, pulling up her stocking, "But all is well".

"Come here" he said, holding out his free arm in a call for her to come close. Obliging him, she walked beside the bed and allowed him to put his hand in the small of her back. He observed her closely, looking into her face.

"You look beautiful"

"To you perhaps. To the rest of the world I am sure I look rather terrible".

He shook his head, pulling her closer so that he could kiss her stomach before laying back down on the bed, holding the edge of her dress.

"Impossible" he smiled, but his face fell with concern the longer he looked at her. "Jane my love, come back to bed. You look so tired, and you were up all night. Let me get up with him, and you can sleep until breakfast is called".

"I fear that if I lay down and fall back asleep for a while I will be more tired when I wake again rather than if I just stayed up now".

"Then I will at least join you downstairs-"

"No Edward. Sleep a little longer yourself. You were with him the first part of the night and you look tired too. Everyone will be up soon enough, I do not mind".

"Tell you what. Give me a few minutes to cuddle with Henry and then we shall both be down to join you".

Jane smiled at him, running her thumb along his cheek.

"I will ask the kitchen girls to have a pot of tea ready".

"Mmm" he said, reaching up to meet Jane's lips, "I won't be long".

. . .

It was an exceptionally beautiful morning. Jane stood in the door frame looking out at the world, taking in all of its beautiful splendour and warmth. It was one of the first late spring days that truly felt like it was approaching summer at last, and she wanted nothing more than to be part of it.

"Nice day, is it not?" a voice called. Jane turned to see the Captain standing on the last stair of the staircase.

"Good morning" she said happily, forgetting all about her previous frustration with the situation of the house, "The day is a beautiful one".

"You are up rather early" he said, advancing towards her. Jane stepped back from the door.

"Indeed, I am afraid with a new baby I rarely sleep anymore"

"Of course" he said, smiling kindly, "I realise that you have no Nanny for Henry. I assume that is a choice that you and Mr Rochester have made together?"

"Of course" Jane answered, walking with him towards the sitting room, "As you know, when I was a governess I saw every sort of servant that a home like this employs. I saw many families rely perhaps too much on nannies, and they never knew the person their child grew to be. We did not want that relationship with our children. I know that having the luxury to have someone else take care of your children is not an experience most women have, and for the vast majority of my life I understood it to be my own reality, and thus I never wanted anything else".

The Captain chuckled, "You speak of my upbringing. I was far closer with my nannies and governesses than I ever was to my parents. To this day I do not know them as well as I would like. So, I must say I agree with you. Though my parents are not worth knowing too well. I believe our personal distance allows me to forgive some of the things they do".

They sat down together on the couches, Jane observing him.

"Do you find that hard?"

"Looking past the things my parents do? No. I would rather that than be frustrated with them".

"I never thought of it like that" Jane admitted, "I never knew my parents so it has never occurred to me that a level of privacy between parents and children is perhaps vital to getting along as adults".

"You are perceptive, Ms Rochester" he said, putting his arm over the back of the couch in an at ease fashion. "It is the case for me, at least. I cannot change the people my parents are, so my only other choice is to ignore the things they do".

As he fussed with the tea tray that had been brought into the room, Jane wondered secretly if that was also the attitude he adopted with marriage too. He looked up just as she was turning away.

"You observe me"

"I'm sorry" she smiled, "I do not mean to. I was only thinking to myself".

"Nothing bad, I hope"

"Of course not. You are family, and apart from that I like you very much".

"Thank you, but you know that I would not be surprised if you were upset after the events of yesterday. I know that Diana's reaction was not the type you were expecting, and you are probably disappointed in her".

Jane shifted in her seat, thinking it was best to be honest then to make up some other feeling towards Diana.

"I love Diana, as you know. But I am surprised at her, and I am a little disappointed in her reaction to her sister".

The Captain nodded and went to speak but stopped himself when he heard Edward standing in the door with Henry in his arms. As he moved inside, the Captain continued.

"Diana has taken her new role as my wife very seriously- especially socially. Meeting my parents I can imagine gave her quite a bit of a shock, and she perhaps believes now that all people are as serious and uptight as they are. I want you to know that I did not put any ideas of being ashamed of Mary's condition into her head, but I do not blame her as it is my group of acquaintances that has forced this new view in her mind".

Edward sat beside Jane on her couch, looking across at the Captain.

"Is there nothing that can be said to her to persuade her otherwise?"

"I spoke with her all last night. Give her time, please. She will come around"

"How can you be so sure?" Edward asked, handing Henry to Jane gently. "I am sorry to ask in a way that doubts Diana, but her behaviour hurt Mary yesterday, and while she is in my house she is under my care. If Diana's presence is upsetting her, then it is my job to keep them apart for present".

"I agree with you fully" the Captain said, "and I would do the absolute same in my own house. I know she will come around because she loves her sister far more than she cares about impressing my family. As far as I am concerned this is our family now. You both, little Henry and Mary. I like you all far more than my family I grew up with. I would never create a separation over something that is evidently not Mary's fault, and neither would Diana. I am sure she is only embarrassed this morning, especially for you, Jane".

"I do not wish her to be embarrassed, and there is no need for it. I understand Diana's surprise, and I know she did not learn of it in the best possible way. Whatever she said before I have always been willing to forget, for I know it came more our of fear or surprise rather than genuine feeling. I only want Mary to know this now too".

"Thank you both" the Captain said, genuinely. "You are both the very best sort of people. Mary knows she has been completely safe here, both from harm and judgement, and that is most reassuring thing to me. I promise you both that when she is feeling well enough to travel again, she shall reside in my house for the rest of her pregnancy. There will be no embarrassment, nor will there be any shame. She is my wife's sister, and she shall be treated such".

A small sniffle alerted the group to another persons presence. Diana had just stepped into the door and looked incredibly guilty. Edward put his arm around Jane as Diana moved forward, sitting next to the Captain on the opposite couch.

"Jane, Mr Rochester, I do not even know where to begin-"

"Don't" Jane said hastily, "Do not worry about explanations. I know who you are, Diana, and so does Edward".

"You were right Jane, as you always so rightly are. I was afraid, and I was surprised, and that is where my attitude came from, not because I actually believed anything bad of my sister. I've just been speaking with her before I came down to join you all, and I apologised. I hope it will be enough for her".

"Of course it will dearest" The Captain said, "Your sister wants your support, and now she knows she has it, and always has. Like I was just saying to Mr and Ms Rochester, she will be coming to out house to wait out the rest of her pregnancy".

"Really?" Diana asked in pleasant surprise.

"Of course. The Rochester's here have their own new baby, and have much to do to keep them busy as it is. Mary is your sister, and thus my sister too. When she is ready to travel, we shall arrange it all".

Jane looked at her baby in Edward's arms, smiling.

"Oh thank you" Diana said, looking up into the Captain's face.

"With that now being settled, breakfast is waiting for you both. Me and Jane have already eaten".

Jane sent her husband a curious look. She has not eaten, and neither had he, and if he thought she would be willing to skip breakfast he was sorely mistaken. She was quite starving after having waited up all night, and was very much looking forward to her food. When Diana and the Captain departed, Jane turned on her husband.

"What was all that about?"

"I know you have not eaten, fear not" he said, grinning, "I only asked for it to be brought to our room".

Henry began fussing and Jane reached out and took him into her arms.

"Indeed? Why?"

"Because I think Henry is hungry again, he has been especially fussy and I've been able to do nothing to soothe him. Besides that, I thought you may appreciate some alone time for a little while. I heard Mary and Diana speaking this morning when I was walking downstairs, and it did not sound entirely peaceful. I did not know what to expect, and if there was drama I did not want you to feel like you had to sit through breakfast with it. I think you had enough of that yesterday".

"I like how 'alone time' means time alone with you" Jane said, reaching over to kiss her husbands cheek. He looked sceptically at her as she drew back.

"Is that all I get? I believe I was rather thoughtful this morning".

"You are always thoughtful" Jane confirmed, "But no, you will get nothing else because someone may see"

"Who?"

"Anyone"

"I see no one now".

Jane grinned, but stood and began marching towards the door with Henry.

"Come on, breakfast awaits".

. . .

Edward was right, Henry was fussing because he was hungry again. All of the breastfeeding lately had made Jane feel sore and sometimes uncomfortable. But, seeing as it was for the person she loved more than anything in the world, she did not mind.

As she sat in the chair before the fire feeding, Edward observed her in between serving out their breakfast on two plates. He had told Jane before how much he loved seeing her breastfeed- how feminine she looked, how nurturing the act was, how he got to look upon the two greatest wonders of his life whenever she did it. Jane had cuddled into his shoulder on that occasion, letting him trail his finger along her back, making shapes. Admittedly, at this moment, she wanted nothing more than that again. All the stress that had been her life lately had only been bearable because he was with her, and at her side through it all. Without him, she surely would have crumpled under the pressure of it all.

"I love you" Jane said suddenly, waiting to see the look in her husbands eye when he turned to her. He looked up, his face soft and full of feeling.

"I love you" he replied, drawing her closer and kissing her lovingly. As the kiss broke, his lips brushed her forehead before he handed her a plate of breakfast and sat beside her, beginning to eat his own.

"Do you know what I found a bit odd this morning?" he asked, "Not even odd, but just bizarre?"

"What?" Jane asked, biting into her toast.

"The way Diana kept thanking her husband for allowing her sister to stay with them. The whole situation just felt off to me. It was like she could not make that decision for herself without him approving, or that she wouldn't dare ask it of him unless he suggested it. The way she was looking up at him like a child granted its favourite toy was just...uncomfortable".

"You know, even before St John Rivers believed he was going to marry me, he wanted me to immediately quit my job and remain at home so I could always be there when he called. One time I was out visiting an acquaintance when he stopped by and he lectured me quite like a father when he next saw me, telling me I was reckless for stepping out of the house in the middle of the day. Really, he was frustrated I was not there at his convenience"

"Oh Jane, don't" Edward moaned, "I hate the mention of that man's name".

"Point being.." Jane continued, "I think men often treat the women in their lives that way, whether conscious or not, and most women simply adhere to it as 'the way things are done'. I too was put off by their demeanour together, but as you have told me again and again since marrying you, I am bound to see things I do not agree with often, and it is not my place to fix them- worrying about it will only cause me too much grief. Besides, Diana is happy, and now so is Mary, so all is well".

"I know, I know. I only wonder if such would have been the outcome if we were not around. Would the Captain have been so willing to take Mary in?"

Jane thought as she started her eggs, but she did not have a suitable answer.

"I would like to hope so" she said, honestly, "But I do not know".

"Well at any rate, we must finished and get dressed. The vicar is coming by shortly"

"What?" Jane asked, socked, "Who called him?"

"I did" Edward said, calmly finishing his last bite of food.

"Those are words I never expected to hear from you" Jane said, honestly.

Edward laughed, taking a sip from Jane's teacup as his was empty.

"It is for Mary, she asked him to be called"

"Goodness" said Jane, "I wonder why she asked him to be called"

"Well, I guess we shall see".